Villarreal a bigger game than derby, says Mancini
City must travel to Old Trafford on Sunday for the first Manchester league derby of the campaign, an encounter which will surely have far more bearing on the fate of the Premier League title than United’s draw at Anfield on Saturday.
However, for City manager Roberto Mancini, who continues to cope admirably with the mounting expectations from fans and owners who have invested an estimated £1 billion in their “project,” it is the visit of Villarreal to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow that is of more pressing concern.
Despite never having been close to competing for, let alone winning, a Premier League title, City’s colossal investment in players has made success in this season’s Champions League an apparent must for Mancini whose future as manager at the club was only really confirmed last season once a top four finish, and place in Europe, was secured.
Thus, a return of one point from two group games to date, has given the upcoming home and away fixtures against the Spanish club added gravitas. It is fair to assume that defeat against Villarreal tomorrow would be more damaging to City and Mancini’s prospects than a loss at Old Trafford on Sunday.
“Yeah,” said Mancini when asked if that was the case. “It’s the first time we have played in the Champions League. This can happen. We know we can lose sometimes and also that we can go out of the Champions League.
“But we have four group games left. And I remember with Lazio, eight, nine or 10 years ago, we won the first two games and then after that we picked up only one point from four games — and we went out.
“I had a difficult time in the Champions League at Inter as well but at least with Inter we always reached the second stage and after that it is always difficult. But for us now the target is that we want to reach the knock-out stages in February. Now it is important for us to concentrate on Villarreal. If we can beat Villarreal — and I don’t think it will be easy — maybe we will have a better chance to go through to the knock-out stages. If we don’t beat them, it will be difficult.
“But we are playing in the Champions League for the first time and we can’t think that we will win every game.’’
Given the nature, and experience, of the players Mancini has brought to Manchester, his repeated claims that his squad lacks the necessary know-how to perform up to par in Europe ring somewhat hollow. This, of course, is all part of the canny Italian’s attempts to manage expectations, to talk down City’s abilities despite having invested more in transfer fees than any club in football history.
Managing expectations will certainly be a major test for Mancini this week as the blue half of Manchester gears up for a visit to Old Trafford in the unfamiliar position of looking down on their neighbours.
“For the fans it is important to be here at the top,” said Mancini. “The fans can do everything. This is normal. And it is correct, it is right for them to be excited. But for us, no. We have to understand that if we want to stay there we have to obey one simple rule: continue to win. If not, things can change. We know this can happen because there are another 30 games to play. But we will go to Old Trafford to play well and to win.”
The only thing of which Mancini and City can be assured at Old Trafford is that the contest will offer a far stiffer test than the one provided by Aston Villa who, after a bright opening 20 minutes, capitulated with embarrassing ease.
Mario Balotelli’s overhead kick started the rout, from a 28th minute corner, before Adam Johnson capitalised on a bad Stephen Warnock error just after the restart. Vincent Kompany scored from another poorly-defended corner before Warnock claimed a consolation and James Milner completed the most routine of victories, with the best goal of the day, from 20 yards.
With the second half seconds old, Emile Heskey failed to connect with a promising Gabriel Agbonlahor cross. City broke almost immediately and doubled their lead thanks to more woeful defending from Villa at a set-piece. Any hopes Villa had went with it.
Carlos who? Tevez still dominates conversation around City, more precisely just what City will do with him and his (reported) £250,000 a week salary. It’s a safe bet, however, that the same people talking about the issue will also be pointing out that the situation is hardly creating a problem for City as they move into top spot.
Mario Balotelli (City): The Italian forward is one of the division’s most enigmatic characters but there is little doubt that, if focused and on his game, he could be a major player at this level. As Roberto Mancini pointed out: “Mario can change in a moment.” For now at least, Balotelli looks a terrifying prospect for rival defenders.
Anthony Taylor had little to do, given Villa’s impoverished performance, but what he did, he did well and quickly.
Villa had their usual contingent on display, none of whom would particularly wish to remember the contest. Of the three ex-City Irishmen, Shay Given was over-worked but decent in goal, Stephen Ireland a non-factor in the middle and Richard Dunne one of a number of Villains whose marking at set-pieces left a lot to be desired.
The most significant aspect of this City win arguably lies in the identity of the players they left on the bench — Silva, Dzeko, Nasri — not to mention the fact that Sergio Aguero was out injured... remember when Roberto Mancini was complaining that his squad was not big enough? That claim looks hollow now.
City host Villarreal tomorrow for a Champions League match they must win to have real hopes of advancing from the group after one point from their first two games. Villa entertain West Brom in a west midlands derby next Saturday.
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Jason Mellor
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